Denise L. Smith

Denise L. Smith holds a Ph.D. degree. She is a Professor of health and exercise sciences at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY, USA, where she directs the First Responder Health and Safety Laboratory, and a Research Scientist at the University of Illinois Fire Service Institute, Champaign, IL, USA. Smith has coauthored an Exercise Physiology textbook and an Advanced Cardiovascular Exercise Physiology textbook and contributed to a textbook on live fire training. Her research focuses on the effect of heat stress and personal protective equipment (PPE) on cardiac, vascular, and coagulatory responses to exercise and work. She has conducted far-reaching research on the cardiovascular strain associated with firefighting and has published over 40 scientific articles. Smith lectures extensively in medical, health, fitness, and safety issues in the fire service. Her research has been funded by FEMA-AFG, DHS S & T, NIOSH, and DOD. She is a Fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine and a Member of the National Fire Protection Association Fire Service Occupational Safety and Health Committee.